D/Force reach North b-ball final

DEFENCE FORCE blew open a close game in the third quarter, outscoring Detour Shak Attack 18-9, then cruised to an 66-56 victory in Game 3 of the North Zone Basketball Commission Championship semi-final at St Paul Street Multi-Purpose Facility. The Army-Coast Guard combination held a 16-14 lead at the end of the first quarter of Saturday night’s game, and were ahead 34-28 at the half-time break. But behind some balanced scoring with Steven Lewis scoring 14 points, Peter Lewis 10 with nine rebounds and four assists and centre Wilt Vincent 10 points 14 carooms and six bolcked shots they led 52-37 at the end of the third period and it was game over as they took the best-of-three series 2-1 to advance to the championship series against defending champions National Flour Mills.

Virgil Fraser had 13 points and 13 rebounds for Shak Attack, while Simon Maraneo also score 13 points and pulled down four boards. Off Limits also won in a 87-71 blow out over Crusaders in their Second Division semi-finals for a 2-0 series shut out. Jonathon Donawa led the scoring for the winners with 19 points, while Dillon Duke and Keron Marsan added 14 each and Steve Williams 13.  Keron Williams and Elgin Ferris had 18 points each and Wasan Gibbs 10 for Crusaders. Game one of both the Second Division and Women Division series were expected to begin yesterday from 4 pm at the same venue. In women action, Defence Force play defending champions Courts Horizon, while Off Limits meet Cosmic Raptors.